Railway coupler



an- 29, 1963 E. J. GREENAWALT 3,075,650

RAILWAY COUPLER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 00 15, 1957 Jan. 29, 1963 E. J. GREENAWALT 3,075,650

RAILWAY COUPLER Filed 001;. 15,. 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

.My invention relates to a railway coupler and more particularly to an improvement of a coupler lock operating mechanism.

Couplers are subjected to severe shocks when used as service equipment for certain types of jobs. Severe shocks may occur at the 'time when a coupler is mated to another coupler or at the time of shunting of railway cars. As the coupler comprises a lock operating mechanism, this lock operating mechanism is subject to those same severe shocks occurring to the coupler. A definite result of these shocks might be damage to the parts of the lock operating mechanism. Accidental disassembly of the related parts might occur. Another result of these severe shocks might be accidental displacement of the locking mechanism which would place the locking mechanism in an unlocked position.

My invention comprehends means whereby the undesired results which might occur due to severe shocks may be prevented. My novel invention comprises novel means to prevent damage to the related parts of the lock operating mechanism. These related parts are contained internally of the coupler. Accidental disassembly of the related parts is prevented as novel means are provided on both the coupler and the locking mechanism which preclude accidental disassembly of the locking mechanism.

It is, therefore, an object of my invention to provide a side operated rotary lock mechanism which is contained in the coupler so as to eliminate damage of the related parts of the coupler lock operating mechanism.

Another object is to provide a simple and efiicient operating lock mechanism which may be easily assembled into the coupler and which remains assembled during operation.

A still further object is to provide a novel interlocking means between a rotor and its related coupler and which means permits assembly of the rotor into the coupler at any position of rotation of the locking mechanism.

A still further object is to allow manual alignment of the coupler by pulling or pushing an operating rod connected to the rotor and which rotor is retained in the coupler by my novel interlocking means.

Other objects, capabilities and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description and from a discussion of the following drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a coupler embodying my invention, a portion of the top of the coupler head being broken away to more adequately show the arrangement of parts;

FIGURES 2 and 2A are detailed plan and side elevation-a1 views, respectively, of a rotor used in the embodiment of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a detail plan view of a lift arm which is associated with the rotor of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a detail :and elevational view of a link used in the embodiment of FIGURE 1, and

FIGURES 5 to 7 are side elevational views with the coupler head partly broken away to show the lock operating mechanism in various positions of lock, lock set and full knuckle throw position.

To achieve clarity, certain structural details have been waist Patented Jan. 29, 1963 '2 omitted from various views, where said details are believed to he shown adequately in other views.

Referring now to'the drawings for a more detailed description of the coupler mechanism and referring more particularly to FIGURE 1, there is shown a coupler10 having a head 12 and a portion of a coupler shank 14. The coupler head =12comprises a guard arm 16. A cavity 17 is disposed internally of the coupler 10. Located therein is a rotor 18 which is rotatable in a horizontal bearing surface or hole 20 which extendsfro'm the operating rod 'side to the guard arm side of coupler 10, the'hole 20 being "disposed adjacent the upper and rear end of cavity 17.

The rotor 18 (FIGURES 2, ZA-and 5) comprises an operating rod engaging eye 22 disposed at an end of the rotor 18. Rotor 18 also comprises lugs 24 and 26 disposed adjacent operating rod engaging eye 22 wherein lugs .24 and .26 extend in opposite directions. The lugs and 26 are 'albuttably engageable with a conventional operating rod (not shown) wherein the operating rod may be rotatably'connected to rotor 18 through eye 22. The l'ugs24 and 26 transmit the rotational torque of the operating rod (not shown) to the rotor 18. Operating rod engaging "eye 22 is provided with its axis extending substantially perpendicularly to the rotational axis of rotor 18. Eye 22 is offset forwardly of the rotational axis of rotor 18 as shown in FIGURES 1 and 5 when the coupler is in lock position as described hereinafter. Intergral with the end which comprises eye 22 and logs 24;and 26 is an intermediate section-2'8; section 28 being integrally connected to another and preferably smaller end section 34). Included in end "section 30 is a key 32 which may be -'substantially rectangular in shape. It should be noted that end section 30 may have a diameter smaller than intermediate section 23 but the key 32 may have an operating radius preferably equal to one;- half the diameter of intermediate section 28; the size of intermediate section 28 and key 32 being a matter of practicality.

:Itshould be noted that the bearing surface 20 is preferably enlarged to permit insertion'of rotor 18 and key 32 at any v:point of rotation of the latter. The enlarged bearing surface eliminates the necessity of cutting a keyway in the hole Ztifor the key 32.

Adapted to 'be operably connected to rotor 18 is a lift arm 34 (FIGURES 1, 3 and 5 through 7). The lift arm 34 comprises akeyway 36;-disposed at an end 37 and may be adaptable to be engaged with key 32 on rotor '18. It should 'be noted that keyway 36 may be substantially rectangular 'and 'can only be connected to key 32. The opposite end of lift arm 34 is bifurcated and comprises a pair of legs 38 having aligned holes 40 for receptionof a pin 42.

Connected to pin 42 and disposed between legs 38 is an endof a link '44. The link :44 comprises an apertu're 46 adapted to receive pin 42. The link 44 also comprises a hook portion 47 which engages a lock 48 as by cross bar 50, wherein the cross bar '50 operably connects and preferably integral with lock 48.

The "coupler 'look operating mechanism may be assembled by inserting rotor 18 into the bearing surface 20, the rotor 18 being inserted from the operating rod side otthe coupler 10. Rotor 18 may be inserted at any point of rotation as the bearing surface 20 has a radius whichis large enough to accommodate the operating radius of key 3-2 and intermediate section 28. Prier to assembly into thecoupler, the lift arm 34 and link'44 may be pivotally connected by pin 42, wherein link 44 is positioned between the legs 38 of lift arm -34 in such a manner that the hook portion 47 faces towards the front of the coupler 10 after assembly therein. The lift arm 34 and its related link 44 are assembled to the lock operating mechanism by mating the keyway 36 and key 32, with the arm 34 below its lower-most operating position, namely the locked position shown in FIGURE 5. Lock 48 is then pivota-lly suspended on hook 47 by cross bar 50. H 7 i i FIGURES 5 to 7 illustrate the various positions of operation of my novel lock operating mechanism. In FIGURE 5 the mechanism is shown in the normal locked position. As is shown, a lug 52 on lock 48 is disposed at the lower end thereof in guide 54 of coupler 10. Upon rotation of rotor 18 in a counterclockwise direction by means of the operating rod (not shown}, the lift arm 34 is rotated counterclockwise about key 32 which results in link 44 and lock 48 being raised. Upon disengagement of lug 52 from guide 54, lock 48 is free to pivot about pivot 50. Lock 48 is preferably counterbalanced wherein the center of gravity of lock 48 is disposed to the right of the pivot 54 The countenbalancing effect of lock 48 will tend to rotate lock 48 in a clockwise direction about pivot 50 when the lock 48 is not in direct contact with guide 54 of coupler it). As soon as lug 52 is free of guide 54, lug 52 will engage surface 56 of coupler 10. The engagement of lug 52 and surface 56 places the locking mechanism in a lock-set position. Additional counterclockwise rotation of rotor 18 will eliminate contact between lug 52 and surface 56 and will raise lock 48 until lock 48 is in the full throw position or unlocked position as seen in FIGURE 7. As lock 48 is raised to the unlocked position, the lock 48 engages the knuckle thrower (not shown) which in turn throws the knuckle 55 to full knuckle throw position.

It should be noted that rotation of rotor 18 to place lock '48 in an unlocked or full knuckle throw position is limited. As seen by an inspection of FIGURE 7, rotor 18 is able to rotate counterclockwise to raise lock 48 until lift arm 34 engages abutment surface 57 of coupler 10. Abutment surface 57 precludes the possibility of an operator rotating rotor 18 so as to raise lock 48 a vertical distance wherein lock 48 is placed in a position which will prevent the operator from returning lock 48 to locked position whenever it is desired to do so. i 'To return the lock 48 to lock-set position will require the rotation of rotor 18 in a clockwise direction so as to allow lock 48 to be lowered. As lock 48 is preferably counter-balanced, lug 52 on lock 48 will again engage surface 56 of coupler 18 with the result that lock 48 will be placed in the lock-set position. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that any slight shock occurring to the coupler which is caused by a mating coupler will return the lock 48 to the locked position.

As stated previously, the coupler described herein may be subject to shocks and vibrations, depending on the service to be performed by the coupler. In order to prevent accidental unlocking of the coupler lock mechanism, the mechanism is provided with positive anticreep means. It will be noted that the lock 48 can tilt rearwardly so that the upper rear corner 49 of lock 48 en gages ledge 49a of a coupler 10. V

A primary advantage of my locking mechanism is that the coupler may be aligned to engage a mating coupler without the necessity of the operator going between the cars. using the operating rod to pull or push the coupler to either left or right, respectively. Accidental removal of the rotor 18 is prevented because of end 37 of lift arm 34 engaging abutment surfaces 60 and 62 (FIGURE 1) of coupler 10, and abutment surfaces 64 and 66 of rotor 18, respectively. It should also be noted that lift arm 34 and link 44 are prevented from becoming accidentally disassembled from either the rotor 18 or lock 48, respectively, because of the novel construction of the internal cavity of coupler 10. The internal cavity 1 7 of coupler 10 is so constructed that after the locking mechanism is assembled, end 37 of lift arm 34 is prevented from becoming disengaged from rotor 18 by sur- 4 face 68 of coupler 10 wherein surface 68 is located adjacent end 37 and at the rear end of cavity 17. As already apparent from the disclosure, proper assembly of key 32 and end 37 is, of course, assured by providing the key with an offset portion 33 of such a dimension which will prevent assembly in any other relationship than that as shown by FIGURES 6 and 7. Link 44 remains pivotally connected to lock 48 because of the line contact of link 44 to lock 48 at 58.

The details and terms of description which I have employed are used as terms of description and not terms of limitation. Therefore, it is not my intention of excluding various forms of the features shown, as various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

I claim:

1. In a' railway coupler having a head with .a knuckle pivoted thereto and containing lock means for said knuckle, the combination of a cavity disposed within said The aligning of couplers may be accomplished by head, a bearing opening in a wall of said head, a rotor having an intermediate portion rotatably journalled in said bearing opening, said rotor having another portion in said head, said other portion being substantially cylindrical, said other portion having a key formed thereon, said key having an offset portion extending beyond the periphery of said other portion, mutually facing abutments on said other portion at the ends of said key, the combined width of said other portion and key being less than the diameter of said bearing opening so that said key may be inserted in any rotative position thereof through said opening, a lift arm having an open ended keyway at one end thereof Within which said key is received, said one end being formed as to provide a substantially circular outer surface about said keyway except for such portions as Where said keyway breaks through and Where said end is joined to said arm, first bearing areas on said one end of said lift arm engageable with said respective mutually facing abutment on said other portion, mutually facing rotor abutment surfaces formed in said head within said cavity, second bearing areas on said one end of said lift arm engageable with said respective mutually facing rotor abutment surfaces, an arm end abutment surface disposed within said head between said mutually facing rotor abutment surfaces, said outer surface of said one end being in close proximity with said rotor end abutment surface only where said lift arm has been assembled onto said rotor with said offset portion adjacent the outward end of said keyway, thereby allowing rotation of said arm about the rotational axis of said rotor without any substantial radial movement of said arm with respect to said rotational axis, means operatively connecting said lift arm to said lock means for operation of the latter in response to rotation of said rotor, means engageable with said lift arm to limit upward movement of said lock means, said keyway being operatively engageable with said key whensaid arm is positioned below its lowermost operating position, said arm being prevented from becoming disengaged from said rotor by retaining said key between said key way and arm end abutment surface when said arm is rotated on said rotor to an operating position, and an engaging eye formed at one end of said rotor extending beyond said head for engagement with an associated operating rod, said eye having its axis substantially perpendicular to and offset from the rotational axis of said rotor in the direction of said knuckle when said rotor is in its locked position.

2. In a railway coupler having a head with a knuckle pivoted thereto and containing lock means for said knuckle, the combination of a chamber formed in said head, a pair of apertures formed in said head in an aligned relationship to each other, a rotor having a portion thereof journalled in said apertures, said rotor having .a central portion in said head and an end portion externally of said head, a key formed on said central portion, said key having an offset portion extending radially outwardly from said central portion, mutually facing abutments on said central portion at the ends of said key, the combined width of said central portion and said key thereon being less than the diameter of one of said apertures so that said key can be inserted through said one of said apertures without necessitating insertion of a keyway therein, a lift arm having an open ended ke way at one end thereof within which said key is received, said one end having bearing areas engageable with said respective mutually facing abutments on said central portion, mutually facing arm engaging surfaces formed in one wall of said head, said one end being formed of such Width as to be received between said arm engaging surfaces and to be in close proximity thereto, an arm end abutment surface formed in said one wall between said arm engaging surfaces, said one end having a portion thereof being in close proximity to said end abut, lent surface so as to allow rotation of said lift arm about the rotational axis of said rotor without any substantial radial movement of said lift arm with respect to said rotational axis when said keyway has been positioned on said key so that said key is adjacent the outward end of said keyway, said arm having the other end thereof at a position below its lowermost operating position when said keyway is in .a position to engage and disengage it from said key, means operatively connecting said other end of said lift arm to said lock means for operation of the latter in response to rotation of said rotor, and an engaging eye formed at said external end portion of said rotor for engagement with an associated operating rod, said eye having its axis offset from the rotational axis of said rotor in a direction forwardly of said rotor when said rotor is in its locked position.

3. In a railway coupler having a head with a knuckle pivoted thereto and containing lock means for said knuckle, the combination of a rotor having a first portion thereof journalled in said head and a second portion externally of said head, .a key formed on said first portion, said key having an offset portion extending outwardly from said first portion, a lift arm having an open ended keyway adjacent one end thereof within which said key is received, means on said rotor and arm to interlock the rotor and arm against substantially relative movement along the rotational axis of the rotor, a lift arm abutment surface formed in said head, said one end having a portion thereof being in close proximity to said li t arm abutment surface so as to allow rotation of said arm about the rotational axis of said rotor only when said key is assembled onto said keyway so that said keyway engages the key from the side opposite said offset portion, means on said arm and head to prevent any substantial relative movement of the arm along the rotational axis of said rotor, said arm having the other end thereof at a position below its lowermost operating position when said keyway is in a position to engage and disengage it from said key, means operatively connecting said other end of said arm to said lock means for operation of the latter in response to rotation of said rotor, and an engaging eye formed on said second portion of said rotor, said eye having its axis substantially perpendicular and offset from the rotational axis of said rotor in the direction of said knuckle when said rotor is in its locked position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 819,314 Renshaw May 1, 1906 1,132,434 Bush Mar. 16, 1915 1,323,291 Kinne Dec. 2, 1919 1,612,775 Kelso Dec. 28, 1926 1,702,372 Wittmer Feb. 19, 1929 1,746,656 Kelso Feb. 11, 1930 1,973,862 Bazeley Sept. 18, 1934 1,986,440 Kinne Jan. 1, 1935 1,990,699 Kinne Feb. 12, 1935 2,002,508 Richards May 28, 1935 2,217,722 Bazeley Oct. 15, 1940 2,340,818 Metzger Feb. 1, 1944 2,585,958 Metzger Feb. 19, 1952 2,709,528 Kayler May 31, 1955 2,831,584 Wolfe Apr. 22, 1958 

1. IN A RAILWAY COUPLER HAVING A HEAD WITH A KNUCKLE PIVOTED THERETO AND CONTAINING LOCK MEANS FOR SAID KNUCKLE, THE COMBINATION OF A CAVITY DISPOSED WITHIN SAID HEAD, A BEARING OPENING IN A WALL OF SAID HEAD, A ROTOR HAVING AN INTERMEDIATE PORTION ROTATABLY JOURNALLED IN SAID BEARING OPENING, SAID ROTOR HAVING ANOTHER PORTION IN SAID HEAD, SAID OTHER PORTION BEING SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL, SAID OTHER PORTION HAVING A KEY FORMED THEREON, SAID KEY HAVING AN OFFSET PORTION EXTENDING BEYOND THE PERIPHERY OF SAID OTHER PORTION, MUTUALLY FACING ABUTMENTS ON SAID OTHER PORTION AT THE ENDS OF SAID KEY, THE COMBINED WIDTH OF SAID OTHER PORTION AND KEY BEING LESS THAN THE DIAMETER OF SAID BEARING OPENING SO THAT SAID KEY MAY BE INSERTED IN ANY ROTATIVE POSITION THEREOF THROUGH SAID OPENING, A LIFT ARM HAVING AN OPEN ENDED KEYWAY AT ONE END THEREOF WITHIN WHICH SAID KEY IS RECEIVED, SAID ONE END BEING FORMED AS TO PROVIDE A SUBSTANTIALLY CIRCULAR OUTER SURFACE ABOUT SAID KEYWAY EXCEPT FOR SUCH PORTIONS AS WHERE SAID KEYWAY BREAKS THROUGH AND WHERE SAID END IS JOINED TO SAID ARM, FIRST BEARING AREAS ON SAID ONE END OF SAID LIFT ARM ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID RESPECTIVE MUTUALLY FACING ABUTMENT ON SAID OTHER PORTION, MUTUALLY FACING ROTOR ABUTMENT SURFACES FORMED IN SAID HEAD WITHIN SAID CAVITY, SECOND BEARING AREAS ON SAID ONE END OF SAID LIFT ARM ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID RESPECTIVE MUTUALLY FACING ROTOR ABUTMENT SURFACES, AN ARM END ABUTMENT SURFACE DISPOSED WITHIN SAID HEAD BETWEEN SAID MUTUALLY FACING ROTOR ABUTMENT SURFACES. SAID OUTER SURFACE OF SAID ONE END BEING IN CLOSE PROXIMITY WITH SAID ROTOR END ABUTMENT SURFACE ONLY WHERE SAID LIFT ARM HAS BEEN ASSEMBLED ONTO SAID ROTOR WITH SAID OFFSET PORTION ADJACENT THE OUTWARD END OF SAID KEYWAY, THEREBY ALLOWING ROTATION OF SAID ARM ABOUT THE ROTATIONAL AXIS OF SAID ROTOR WITHOUT ANY SUBSTANTIAL RADIAL MOVEMENT OF SAID ARM WITH RESPECT TO SAID ROTATIONAL AXIS, MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTING SAID LIFT ARM TO SAID LOCK MEANS FOR OPERATION OF THE LATTER IN RESPONSE TO ROTATION OF SAID ROTOR, MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID LIFT ARM TO LIMIT UPWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID LOCK MEANS, SAID KEYWAY BEING OPERATIVELY ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID KEY WHEN SAID ARM IS POSITIONED BELOW ITS LOWERMOST OPERATING POSITION, SAID ARM BEING PREVENTED FROM BECOMING DISENGAGED FROM SAID ROTOR BY RETAINING SAID KEY BETWEEN SAID KEYWAY AND ARM END ABUTMENT SURFACE WHEN SAID ARM IS ROTATED ON SAID ROTOR TO AN OPERATING POSITION, AND AN ENGAGING EYE FORMED AT ONE END OF SAID ROTOR EXTENDING BEYOND SAID HEAD FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH AN ASSOCIATED OPERATING ROD, SAID EYE HAVING ITS AXIS SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO AND OFFSET FROM THE ROTATIONAL AXIS OF SAID ROTOR IN THE DIRECTION OF SAID KNUCKLE WHEN SAID ROTOR IS IN ITS LOCKED POSITION. 